Focusing Issue on M9

[SteveHicks]

I recently picked up a really nice used M9 from someone here on RFF. It's an amazing camera, and I have enjoyed it immensely.

I put a 50mm Summicron SN 3756339 (Version IV??) on this camera and have noticed that it is unable to be focused all the way out to infinity. The same lens on my old M3 has no such issue.

I recall reading elsewhere about the need to have certain lenses calibrated with the M9.

Is this the same issue?

It's not a big deal to me for most things as I rarely need to focus at that point. Aside from that, the images produced with this combination are quite sharp.

Thanks for any insight people may have.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

A competent leica service guy can fix that in 15 minutes. There beneath the red button (leica logo) is a screw. there you adjust the fine tune of focusing. I however recommend it to be done in an optical bench

 

[JMQ]

I have the same issue with certain lenses not focusing to infinity on the M9 while these same lenses are fine on the film M. I find it annoying, but in the end doesn't affect results.

 

[SteveHicks]

Thanks for your comments Rangefinderfreak and JMQ.

I'll probably wait until there are other issues on this camera before letting it go long enough to have this done.

It's comforting to know this is a known issue and that I'm not crazy....

 

[V-12]

You don't need to have lenses calibrated to the M9. You need the M9 calibrated, and then the lenses calibrated (but if they already work on your M3 they should be OK). It is a complete myth that both lens and body should be adjusted to each other, this is the wrong way to do it because it means only lenses calibrated to the specific body will work, where all lenses should work on any (properly calibrated) body.

 

[flash]

The screw below the red Doris for vertical calibration of the rangefinder patch, not the actual focus mechanism and it needs a special tool. The adjustment of the infinity point is a 2mm Allen key at the inside top of the mount on the body side.

Look here for a detailed explanation.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/122176-m9-coincidence-infinity.html

If your lens rotates to infinity then you'll need have the rangefinder adjusted on the camera body. If infinity is out it's likely that close focus isn't accurate either as adjusting infinity also adjusts the overall focus throw of the rangefinder mechanism. If infinity is out, so will the rest, usually.

Gordon

Gordon